#SPACE MONKEY GAMES FACTORY INTERNATIONAL

[saridha]

Top Indoor Kids Play Areas in Chennai

Chennai, the vibrant capital city of Tamil Nadu, offers plenty of exciting recreational spaces for families. Among the most loved destinations for young children are indoor play areas, which provide a fun, safe, and climate-controlled environment for energetic kids. Whether it's a weekend outing, a birthday celebration, or just a day to let children explore and play freely, Chennai has numerous indoor kids play zones that are fun-filled and engaging. In this article, we explore the top 10 indoor kids play areas in Chennai, perfect for toddlers to tweens, combining physical activities, creativity, and safe entertainment under one roof.

1. Funky Monkeys Play Center (Adyar & Velachery) One of the most popular names in Chennai for indoor kids’ fun, Funky Monkeys is designed for children between 6 months to 12 years. The facility offers a soft play area with slides, tunnels, ball pools, climbing walls, and zip lines. Hygiene and safety are top priorities here, and they also provide birthday party packages.

2. Wild Tribe Ranch Kids Indoor Play (Phoenix MarketCity) Located inside Phoenix MarketCity in Velachery, this space is a mini adventure land for kids. With trampoline parks, ball pits, rope activities, and safe zones for toddlers, it’s a favorite weekend escape for many families in the city.

3. Little Millennium Play Zone (Anna Nagar) This indoor play area is part of the Little Millennium preschool chain and is known for combining fun with learning. Children can enjoy interactive games, soft play equipment, mini obstacle courses, and themed rooms that enhance motor skills and creativity.

4. The Jump Zone (OMR – Sholinganallur) This trampoline park includes a kids’ section where children can jump, bounce, and tumble in a padded and supervised environment. They also conduct regular fitness and fun sessions for kids.

5. Play ‘N’ Learn (VR Mall Chennai) Situated inside VR Chennai mall, Play ‘N’ Learn is an educational play center for kids aged 2 to 10. It offers curated activity zones like a ball blaster arena, climbing areas, educational games, and roleplay sections like mini grocery stores and doctor clinics.

6. KidZania (Marina Mall, OMR) An international concept, KidZania lets children roleplay real-life jobs like doctors, pilots, firefighters, and chefs in a safe, kid-sized city setup. This indoor city for kids blends fun and learning with hands-on experiences.

7. Happy Cow Playhouse (Alwarpet) This boutique indoor play space is ideal for toddlers and pre-schoolers. With a cozy and homely ambiance, it features imaginative play zones, Montessori tools, reading corners, and sensory activities. Perfect for weekday playdates and developmental play.

8. Play Factory (Nungambakkam) A newly emerging favorite, Play Factory is packed with giant slides, foam pits, swing sets, and interactive digital games. The staff here ensures close supervision and cleanliness, making it a trusted space for parents.

9. IPlay (Ampa Skywalk Mall) Inside Ampa Skywalk Mall in Aminjikarai, IPlay is a high-energy entertainment zone designed for kids and teenagers. With arcade games, soft play equipment, and creative corners, it provides a well-rounded indoor experience.

10. TimeZone Play Area (Express Avenue Mall) TimeZone at Express Avenue is more than just an arcade. It also has a dedicated soft play area for children under 10. Kids can enjoy ball pools, mini rides, interactive learning games, and family-friendly attractions under supervision.

Conclusion Indoor kids play areas in Chennai have evolved into dynamic and safe environments that allow children to learn through play, develop social skills, and burn off energy in fun ways. With top facilities offering everything from trampolines and soft play to roleplay zones and interactive learning, Chennai parents are spoiled for choice. Whether it's for a fun family outing or to celebrate a child’s special day, these indoor kids play zones stand out as the best destinations to combine joy and safety. So the next time you're looking for an exciting, rainproof, and sun-safe venue for your little one, check out one of these top indoor kids play areas in Chennai.

[udhaya-chennaitop10]

Rainy Day Activities: Top Indoor Play Areas in Chennai for Kids

When the monsoon season arrives in Chennai, the city transforms into a landscape of vibrant greenery and cooler temperatures. However, the heavy downpours can often disrupt outdoor activities, especially for families with children. Fortunately, Chennai offers a variety of indoor play areas that provide a safe, engaging, and fun environment for kids. Here’s a comprehensive guide to the top indoor play areas in Chennai that promise hours of entertainment, learning, and joy, regardless of the weather outside.

Discover the best indoor kids play areas in Chennai! Explore fun-filled, safe, and engaging spaces perfect for children's activities, birthday parties, and family outings. From soft play zones to adventure activities, find the ideal spot for endless entertainment in Chennai."

1. Kidzania

Location: Phoenix MarketCity, Velachery

Kidzania is an interactive, educational theme park that combines inspiration, fun, and learning through realistic role-play for children aged 4 to 16. This indoor city is built to scale for kids and offers a variety of activities where children can explore over 100 careers, from a pilot to a doctor, and a chef to a firefighter. Each activity is designed to teach kids essential life skills, including teamwork, responsibility, and creativity, in a fun and engaging way.

2. Play Factory

Location: OMR, Thoraipakkam

Play Factory is a massive indoor play area that caters to children of all age groups. It features a trampoline park, a foam pit, climbing walls, and a soft play area for toddlers. The facility is well-maintained and adheres to high safety standards, making it an excellent choice for a day of energetic play. The diverse activities ensure that children can engage in both physical and mental exercises, promoting overall development.

3. MGM Dizzee World

Location: East Coast Road (ECR)

While primarily known as an amusement park, MGM Dizzee World also boasts an extensive indoor play area suitable for rainy days. This section includes various rides, video games, and interactive play zones that are ideal for keeping kids entertained when the weather is less than cooperative. The park's indoor facilities are designed to provide a miniature version of the outdoor thrills, ensuring that fun is never compromised.

4. Funky Monkey Play Center

Location: Nungambakkam

Funky Monkey Play Center is one of Chennai’s most popular indoor play zones, designed specifically for children aged 6 months to 12 years. The center features a variety of play equipment, including slides, ball pits, and obstacle courses, all in a safe, clean, and air-conditioned environment. The play center also has a dedicated area for toddlers, ensuring age-appropriate fun for all kids.

5. Kartwheel

Location: Adyar

Kartwheel is an indoor play space that combines fun with learning through a range of innovative play equipment and activities. The facility includes a play gym, a sensory play area, art and craft sections, and a mini library. Kartwheel aims to stimulate creativity and cognitive development in children through its well-rounded offerings. Regular workshops and events add to the enriching experience for kids.

6. Timezone

Location: Multiple locations (Express Avenue, Forum Vijaya Mall, etc.)

Timezone is an international chain of family entertainment centers that provides a wide range of arcade games, virtual reality experiences, and bowling alleys. It’s an excellent option for kids and their families looking to spend quality time together. The vibrant and colorful environment at Timezone ensures that children are engaged and entertained for hours on end.

7. Wild Tribe Ranch

Location: East Coast Road (ECR)

Wild Tribe Ranch is another indoor adventure zone offering a range of activities for kids. While it has several outdoor attractions, its indoor facilities are equally impressive. Children can enjoy rock climbing, rope courses, and other adventure sports in a safe and controlled environment. This facility is perfect for kids who love to be active and adventurous, regardless of the weather.

8. Pumpkin Patch

Location: Anna Nagar

Pumpkin Patch is a delightful indoor play area designed for younger children. It features soft play structures, ball pits, and creative play zones that encourage imaginative play and social interaction. The colorful and cheerful environment at Pumpkin Patch makes it a favorite among toddlers and preschoolers, providing a safe space for them to explore and enjoy.

9. The Little Gym

Location: Anna Nagar, Alwarpet

The Little Gym is more than just a play area; it’s a gymnasium for kids that focuses on physical development through structured classes and free play. Activities here include gymnastics, dance, and sports skills development, all conducted in a fun and supportive atmosphere. The Little Gym aims to build confidence, coordination, and social skills in children, making it a fantastic indoor option for active kids.

10. IPlay ILearn

Location: Multiple locations (Adyar, Velachery, etc.)

IPlay ILearn offers a range of programs and play areas designed to foster early childhood development. The centers are equipped with a variety of educational toys, puzzles, and play equipment that cater to different age groups. The focus is on learning through play, and the friendly, nurturing environment helps children develop their motor skills, cognitive abilities, and social interactions.

Conclusion

Chennai's indoor play areas provide excellent alternatives to outdoor activities during the rainy season. These play zones not only offer a fun-filled escape from the confines of home but also contribute to the physical, mental, and social development of children. Whether it's climbing, role-playing, or simply jumping around, these indoor venues ensure that kids can stay active and entertained, no matter how hard it’s raining outside. So, the next time the clouds gather and the rains pour down, head to one of these top indoor play areas in Chennai for a day of endless fun and excitement for your little ones.

[hiddenobjectfiles]

So much of our research so far in HOG has led us to sketch ‘resellers’ and websites you wouldn’t trust with your credit card details (we assume this is one of the reasons Big Fish do so well since yo’re already in a trusted portal)

This appears to be a whole new developer we’ve not previously found with some interesting games (no idea how legit they are - A Black Swan game?) but look crime & gothic crossover title - must find that one...

[tokiro07]

There’s two DLC slots left (assuming there’s only going to be one season pass), and there’s a lot of ways it can shake out, so I’m gonna cast as wide a net as I can so I have a decent chance of being right

The one thing that we can say for absolute certain is that the two characters will either be from a Nintendo property (1st or 2nd party) or from a 3rd party property that has been on a Nintendo system before

Since this post ended up getting kind of messy, I’m going to be highlighting the ones that I think are the most likely from each developer or category

If it’s from a Nintendo property, then it’d either be:

Someone from a relatively long-standing Nintendo franchise that doesn’t have a fighter or Assist Trophy yet; the best I can think of would be the Wars franchise (probably Andy), the Excite franchise (probably Excitebiker), Chibi-Robo, Custom Robo (one of the models of Ray), or Rhythm Heaven (if Spirits are out, then probably Tibby or Marshall, but if Spirits are in, Karate Joe or the Chorus Kids)

A character from a recent game or series such as BoxBoy (Qbby) or Ever Oasis (Tethu) which have been gaining some attention lately, or upcoming Nintendo game, like Astral Chain (Akira Howard), Daemon x Machina (either the pilot or the mech), or some other game that we don’t know about yet

A character from an older Nintendo game that may have only had one or two games, like Balloon Fight, Mach Rider, StarTropics (Mike Jones), or any others that don’t have a fighter or Assist Trophy

For 3rd parties, it could be from a developer already represented in Smash:

Of the 3rd parties already in, Bandai-Namco is the only one that only has one series as opposed to two (not counting Bayonetta, technically 2nd party, or Banjo, a former 2nd party), which is especially odd given their involvement in the creation of the game itself; their new series could be Dark Souls (most likely the Chosen Undead), Klonoa, Katamari (the Prince of All Cosmos), Dig Dug (Taizo Hori), Tower of Druaga (Gil), Tekken (Heihachi), Soulcalibur (Nightmare), or the Tales franchise (probably Lloyd). Alternatively, Bandai specifically could get in on the action with either Tamagotchi (Mametchi) or its more action-oriented counterpart Digimon (probably Agumon), which both started out as Game-and-Watch style digital toys and evolved into video game franchises in their own right, though Digimon had a much greater focus on that

Sega, who technically only has one (Sonic), since Persona was an acquired property rather than an original property, could get Alex Kidd, NiGHTs, Super Monkey Ball (AiAi), or Virtua Fighter (Akira Yuki, who already has a Mii costume), though their most likely addition would probably be Puyo Puyo (most likely Arle), as despite being another acquired property (from Compile), it is most heavily associated with Sega and is currently one of their most popular franchises. They could also get other Sonic characters, like Tails or Eggman, but I’m mostly leaning towards new franchises. Also, though I don’t believe it has any real shot, Sega does make the Vocaloid rhythm games, Project Diva, so there’s a non-zero chance that we could get Miku.

Capcom, who already have Megaman and Street Fighter, could potentially get Monster Hunter (as the Rathalos is already a boss), Ace Attorney (Phoenix Wright), Devil May Cry (Dante), or possibly even Resident Evil (Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, or most likely Leon Kennedy, since he has the closest ties with Nintendo)

Konami, who already have Metal Gear and Castlevania, could potentially get Frogger (an icon of arcade gaming), Silent Hill (unlikely, but Pyramid Head is a horror icon, so it wouldn’t be too far-fetched), Mystical Ninja (Goemon), or Contra (Bill Rizer/Lance Bean). If Bomberman weren’t already an Assist Trophy, I’d say he was a strong contender as a Hudson rep, though Bonk is still in the running there

If you consider Banjo-Kazooie a Microsoft property, then it’s possible that Microsoft allowed Nintendo to use it on the condition that they get another character in as well, though this seems unlikely. If that’s the case, though, they’d most likely go with Minecraft (Steve/Alex), since as far as I know that’s the only property of their’s that’s ever been on a Nintendo platform outside of other Rare properties, though maybe that hypothetical deal would open the gates for series that have never been on a Nintendo console, like Halo (Master Chief)

Square Enix most likely won’t get another one, but they do own Taito, formerly a major studio in their own right, and thus could reasonably get Bubble Bobble (Bub/Bob) or even Space Invaders, though I’m not sure how viable that would be. For Square Enix themselves, the Mana series (likely Randi) or even Kingdom Hearts (Sora) would be good choices, but I don’t see it happening

If Nintendo wants to keep bringing in other companies, though, there are still four more of the top 10 biggest gaming companies in Japan that aren’t in yet:

Tecmo-Koei has pretty close ties with Nintendo, co-owning the Fatal Frame franchise, which already has an Assist Trophy; chances are good they’d go with Ninja Gaiden (Ryu Hayabusa), since that’s one of the iconic classic Nintendo games, though they could also potentially go with Dead or Alive (Kasumi) or Dynasty Warriors (though for the life of me I don’t know who they could go with. Lu Bu?)

Level-5, who frequently gets help from Nintendo with international publishing, would most likely go with Professor Layton or Yokai Watch (likely Jibanyan), though Inazuma Eleven (Mamoru Endou) or Ni no Kuni (Oliver, Evan, or Roland) would also work in a pinch. Interestingly, Level-5 also owns Comcept, so Mighty no. 9 (Beck) is a possibility, but an exceedingly slim one

Sony, Nintendo’s most major rival, doesn’t have much to offer since most of their first party games aren’t on Nintendo systems, and their most significant viable IP, Crash Bandicoot, is currently owned by Activision, so even if Crash got in, it’s hard to say that it would be as a Sony rep. Still, Crash is a gaming icon and former mascot of Sony, which would heavily symbolize the rivalry between Sony and Nintendo even if ownership has changed hands. If being on a Nintendo system isn’t an issue, Little Big Planet (Sackboy), Sly Cooper, or God of War (Kratos) would all be excellent choices. Interestingly, everything I’ve said so far has been developed by Sony’s American or European subsidiaries. For Japanese studios, their most likely reps would probably be Ape Escape (Spike) or Gravity Rush (Kat). Sony also currently owns Q*Bert (formerly owned by Gottlieb), who would be a perfect representative of arcade gaming, though I don’t imagine Sony would pick Q*Bert over any of their original IPs if given the choice.

Marvelous, who happens to be making Daemon x Machina with Nintendo, frequently releases their games on Nintendo platforms; by far their biggest series is Story of Seasons (likely Pete with Sara as an alternate costume, though other player characters such as Mark, Pony, Toy, Claire, Henry and Holly would also work), or its spinoff, Rune Factory (likely Raguna), but Muramasa (Momohime/Kisuke) would be a fairly strong contender if only because of popularity. They also own Senran Kagura (Asuka), which got its start on Nintendo consoles and still remains there to this day. Its risque nature makes me hesitant to call it viable or likely, though that certainly didn’t stop Bayonetta, but either way Story of Seasons feels a lot more likely. There’s also Little King’s Story (Corobo), but that’s a fairly niche title, I think

More in line with Microsoft, there are also a number of particularly big Western companies with a lot of support for getting into Smash

The biggest is probably Ubisoft, who is definitely the Western company on the best terms with Nintendo; they would most likely use Rayman, especially since he’s had a trophy and a Spirit, though a Rabbid is also possible. Assassin’s Creed (probably Ezio or Altair), Prince of Persia, or even Starlink (Mason Rana) may all work, but Rayman is definitely the best bet

A representative from Bethesda, another major Western company which seems to be on at least friendly terms with Nintendo; since Bethesda owns Id, I’m inclined to say Doom (Doomslayer), though I would think that Bethesda would want to use one of their original properties, so potentially Elder Scrolls (Dovahkin). Fallout (likely Vaultboy) may work too, but that’s also an acquired property

Though mostly inactive now, Atari was once one of the pillars of the video game industry. Unfortunately, they don’t really have many iconic characters that are particularly viable, but as I’ve said in the past, the Centipede would make a really interesting fighter

Activision Blizzard doesn’t have much that’s been playable on Nintendo, though there are games from both Activision and Blizzard individually: Activision could potentially contribute Call of Duty (Private Martin?), but they did acquire Spyro and Crash from Sony, so that would probably be a better fit for Smash, though it’s hard to say if they’d use someone else’s mascot; on Blizzard’s side, Overwatch (Tracer) was recently announced to be coming to Switch, and Diablo has gotten a lot of attention from Nintendo, what with the Diablo variant Switch and the Loot Goblin amiibo, though I’m not sure who would be a viable representative

Warner Bros. Interactive doesn’t really have a ton to offer since it mostly does licensed games, but it does publish NetherRealm Studios’ Mortal Kombat (Scorpion or Sub-Zero), one of the most iconic fighting games of all time, and 5th Cell’s Scribblenauts (Maxwell). The latter certainly isn’t as iconic as Mortal Kombat in terms of video game history, but it’s at least a lot easier to associate with WB

The Tetris Company doesn’t explicitly have any characters of their own as far as I know, though Tetrominos are a surprisingly popular choice. I however propose that they could use Tee from Puyo Puyo Tetris, as he is the closest thing to a Tetris character that there is. Unfortunately he’s probably considered a Sega character since he was designed by Sonic Team, but who knows, maybe the Tetris Company co-owns him

EA has...uh...the Sims, which used to belong to Nintendo? Dr. Wright from SimCity is already an Assist Trophy, but Nintendo never lost the rights to the character, so that doesn’t really count. They don’t really have much else that’s useful. Plants vs Zombies? Need for Speed? Dragon Age...? Regardless, EA has said that they are distancing themselves from the Switch (though they immediately backtracked on that statement), which seems evident since they don’t appear to be putting the new PvZ on Switch, so it feels unlikely that they’d get any representation in Smash at all

CD Projekt Red is getting Witcher III on Switch, and people really love Geralt, so maybe? Doesn’t seem super likely, but not impossible

Take-Two Interactive has GTA and LA Noire, but I’m not sure if those are viable

Epic Games has Fortnite which...I guess could just have eight different outfits? I don’t know anything about Fortnite

Some smaller Japanese studios (smaller than the top 10, not necessarily indie) may also be decent choices, since they have games with enough history to warrant being in Smash:

SNK has King of Fighters/Fatal Fury (Terry Bogard or Mai Shiranui) and Metal Slug (Marco/Tarma). SNK has officially gotten Fatal Fury’s Terry in Smash, seemingly to represent the Neo Geo system, which honestly I should have considered would make SNK a stronger contender

Cooking Mama Limited has...Cooking Mama

Nippon Ichi Software has Disgaea (Laharl)

ArcSystem Works has BlazBlue (Ragna), Guilty Gear (Sol Badguy), and iconic beat-em-up series Double Dragon (Billy/Jimmy Lee) since acquiring Technos Japan from Data East

Grasshopper Manufacture has No More Heroes (Travis Touchdown), which has had pretty much its entire history on Nintendo systems

Natsume is probably the least likely of this entire post, but they have what is currently called Harvest Moon (Farmer?) and their more well known original title, Medabots (Metabee or Rokusho) which is surprisingly still going

And of course, there’s the indies, both Japanese and Western:

Nicalis currently has the rights to indie forerunner Cave Story (Quote), and are the current publishers of classic SNES series Umihara Kawase, but the real star for them is definitely Cave Story

WayForward’s Shantae is already a Spirit in Smash, so of indies, I think she has the best bet, but only if Spirits don’t preclude fighter status

Not technically indie, but Inti Creates broke off from Capcom several years ago and released Azure Striker Gunvolt (Gunvolt) before teaming up with various indie developers to help them with their projects, so I’m gonna go ahead and count them. They also have Gal*Gun (Ekoro), Dragon: Marked for Death (likely Empress) and now have the rights to Blaster Master (Jason) from Sunsoft. If they only have the license and the rights still belong to Sunsoft though, then chalk Sunsoft and Blaster Master up in the smaller studios category above

Toby Fox’s Undertale (Frisk) has a lot of demand, so it only seems fair to put it on this list

For the sake of acknowledgment, Yacht Club’s Shovel Knight is the only indie to have an Assist Trophy, so while I doubt Shovel Knight is going to be in the DLC, he could come up in a future Smash

Devolver Digital is getting pretty big lately and has a ton to offer, and with their flagship series Hotline Miami (Jacket) confirmed to be coming to Switch, their chances have certainly improved. The Messenger and Enter the Gungeon would both work too, but Hotline Miami is definitely the go-to for Devolver

Gears for Breakfast’s A Hat in Time (Hat Kid) is the latest indie darling making the rounds, and with its imminent release on Switch, its chances have only gone up

Similarly, Team Cherry’s Hollow Knight is gaining a lot of traction, to the point that its sequel had its own segment at E3 this year

Brace Yourself Games’ Crypt of the Necrodancer (Cadence) has a crossover with Legend of Zelda, an honor that I don’t believe I’ve ever seen an indie game get from Nintendo before

Choice Provisions’ Bit.Trip (CommanderVideo) had a trophy in Smash 4, making it the first indie to be acknowledged in Smash, although CommanderVideo did not receive a Spirit in Ultimate. They’re also the current publishers of Bubsy, which...I would hope doesn’t get in

Edmund McMillen has at least two successful indies, Super Meat Boy and Binding of Isaac, and while I don’t think either of them will make it, I felt that they were at least worth mentioning

StudioMDHR’s Cuphead is on Switch and ostensibly getting a physical release soon, and from what I’ve seen is one of the most hotly requested indies for Smash

Similarly to Cave Story, Kikiyama’s Yume Nikki (Madotsuki) was wildly influential for the indie scene and would be very interesting, though highly unlikely, for Smash

Speaking of influential indies, Team Shanghai Alice’s Touhou Project (Reimu Hakurei) is one that I see a fair bit of clamor for, especially now that it’s getting console games

Supergiant Games’ Bastion (the Kid) is yet another influential indie game, and also interestingly enough was published by Warner Bros. Interactive, so if Mortal Kombat doesn’t work out, this is another good option

And of course, how could I forget Matt Makes Games’ Celeste (Madeline), a game with tremendous pull by fans to get into Smash

If I think of any I missed that I think have a decent chance, I’ll add them in later

[consciousowl]

Isn’t It About Time for Evolution to Evolve?

I died as a mineral and became a plant, I died as plant and rose to animal, I died as animal and I was Man. Yet once more I shall die as Man, to soar With angels bless’d; but even from angelhood I must pass on: all except God doth perish. When I have sacrificed my angel-soul, I shall become what no mind e’er conceived.​

-Jalalludin Rumi

Do you believe in evolution? Or do you find it an extremely useful organizing tool for examining life and thinking about our origins, as well as that of the plants and animals that make Earth our home? Why must we have faith in evolution, as if it were a fact? Charles Darwin conceived of one of the most far-reaching ideas in human history, and provided us highly convincing evidence. Yet, unless we can travel back in time hundreds of millions of years, we can’t be absolutely sure. Have you ever asked yourself whether the very idea of evolution, itself, might evolve? Is it possible that we might just go beyond that idea, and put both God and the monkey together?

Evolution vs. Creationism: Why Does It Matter?

Evolution and creationism matter if you care about such questions as, “Who are we? Where did we come from? Where are we going?”. If life as we know it is totally a result of random mutations in genes, and there was neither design nor designer, what does that make us? Random flukes in a meaningless universe that couldn’t care less about us. If creationism is true in any way, then we can safely claim to be made in the image of God. We have a divine spark within us; better yet, we are inherently divine! Even if Adam and Eve in the Garden is a poetic story, it hides a deep truth. Humans may be the first creatures on earth conscious of being conscious, life forms who celebrate the supreme Source of consciousness. For 150 years, this debate has raged, long before the Scopes Monkey trial in Tennessee that made creationists seem like a joke, and long after. Nothing has really changed. Some people can’t get with the idea that this is all by accident and totally meaningless. Can you blame them?

Why Darwinian Evolution Is Out of Date

The Darwinian Theory of Evolution is way out of date, like a vacuum-tubed mainframe from the 1950’s. It was conceived in the middle of the 19th Century during the early phase of industrialization that had children work 12-hour days in factories. It was developed during a period when England and France gained ascendency over most of Africa and Asia, and systematically pillaged resources from both continents to supply their factories with the raw materials necessary for continuous output. Darwin carefully observed fascinating phenomena in the Galapagos Islands that showed the inherent competition among living systems for life-giving energy and water. He called it “survival of the fittest,” popularly known as the “law of the jungle”: kill, or be killed. While the fossil evidence to support Darwin has become undeniable, his interpretation of that evidence leads something to be desired. He lived in an industrial era, and so thought in primarily mechanical terms. His concept of God was of a remote deity somewhere “out there” wholly disinterested in human affairs. We might wonder if he ever encountered the God within.

Is the Universe Really So Stupid?

One of the tragic limitations of the early form of evolution was the assumption that the Universe was stupid. It was the era of the steam engine. Everything was thought of in terms of processes. The French Enlightenment had advanced the idea of “the system of nature.” The world was a giant system that could be examined without any reference to God, or even to ourselves. Every child is filled with wonder. I can still remember how brilliant the Christmas tree bulbs were when I was four-years old. When I look at Yosemite, or the Grand Canyon, or a pristine forest or an alluring tropical island, I am stunned by the exquisite beauty. Beauty is inherent in creation. What is accidental about that? We no longer think of the world that way, thanks to such scientists as James Lovelock, who developed the Gaia Theory that earth functions as a giant living organism. Even when human beings set about to damage the ecosystem, it has a way of healing itself that no one could have predicted.

Could Spacetime be a Mental Construct

Albert Einstein, in his later years, wrestled with an inadmissible question: Is the universe really out there? Could both time and space actually be a mental invention, the software by which we make sense of our experience? An irreplaceable interface to our playing the game full out in this simulation? With quantum physics, the notion of an “objective” universe “out there” came tumbling down. You can’t make an observation without the observer. The observer, herself, is a participant in it. However you cut it, the universe is inseparable from consciousness. Not only that, nonlocality was experimentally demonstrated such that particles can communicate with each other faster than the speed of light, even when on opposite sides of the universe. Increasingly, this world came to resemble an immense hologram. Could it be that our world is inside US? Whenever you have a single perception, idea, thought, memory or dream, YOU are the one with that perception, idea, thought, memory or dream. It is only an assumption that they are totally independent of you.

Contrasting Ecosystems: Competition vs. Cooperation

Dr. Elisabeth Sahtouris is an evolutionary biologist with a deep love for life, who continually asks the big questions, having been deeply influenced by the ecology movement of the 1970’s. She will never make the mistake of seeing the tree for the forest. She has distinguished two different kinds of evolution, one preceding the other.

Early evolution is, indeed, highly competitive, a true competition among the genes for precious sunlight and water. It starts at the bacteria level, then goes to simple one-celled creatures and then multi-celled plants and animals. This is the evolution that haunted Charles Darwin. Dr. Sahtouris points out that the Soviets honored Peter Kropotkin, who focused on mutual aid and anticipated the environmental revolution. Kropotkin concentrated on mature ecosystems where mutual cooperation is the norm, not the exception. Organisms finally wise up and realize that helping one another is more cost-effective in terms of energy that devouring one another. According to Dr. Sahtouris, both early and mature evolution are true. Any profound contemporary theory of evolution must honor both.

Evolution the DNA of Silicon Valley

Having worked in Silicon Valley for over 20 years, I have had the chance to see generation after generation of computer technology evolve, not organically, but by design. Gordon Moore predicted that computers would double their power and cut their cost by half every couple years. That trend has held true for over 50 years! A human cell evolves from a single fertilized cell to an intricately complex adult with over 10 trillion cells in just 50 divisions. In every cell, a set of instructions allow the total organism to completely fulfill its life cycle. Cracking the human genome revealed that these instructions can be coded as on-off signals into binary language.

By designing advanced technology, we can gain amazing insight into our own genetic makeup. It is now possible to play “creator” with our own genome. However, we have to ask many questions about our relative wisdom before we embark upon such an endeavor. Can we evolve our consciousness the same way we have evolved our bodies?

What’s Next in Evolution?

Whatever one accepts about biological evolution, social and cultural evolution is hard to deny. Despite the fanaticism of our contemporaries on the world stage, we have grown a lot more humane in the last couple hundred years. Legal slavery is no more. The average lifespan has more than doubled. Literacy worldwide is at the highest ever. While international conflict stubbornly persists, the number of people dying from wars has dramatically dropped. Dr. Deepak Chopra spoke about “metabiological evolution.” It is less and less about changing our bodies and more and more about transforming our heads and our hearts. If we except the Hindu notion of God as “Being, Consciousness and Bliss,” then expanding our consciousness is the most effective way to evolve. Consciousness expansion begins by losing all attachment to our egoistic definition of ourselves. We shift from foreground to background. We are not so much the players on the stage as the stage, itself. We are the context out of which the content of our lives occurs. As the great Jesuit paleontologist put it: “Someday, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love, and then, for a second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire.”

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So - turns out the ‘Black Swan’ is real - and released recently?